PHS boys pull away for Leroy Gooch title

April 18, 2006

PNT staff

RUIDOSO — Freshman Donavin Sanchez bounced back from a first-day 85 to shoot 34-38 — 72 on Tuesday, leading the Portales High boys golf squad to the small-school team title in the Leroy Gooch Invitational tournament.

The Rams finished with a four-man score of 650 for 36 holes after shooting 315 on Tuesday at The Links. They expanded an eight-stroke margin after Monday’s play at Alto Lakes Country Club to 16 strokes over Grants and 17 over Socorro, both likely challengers down the road in Class 3A postseason play.

“The guys went out and won one,” PHS boys coach Patrick Crowley said after his team won its second tournament title in less than a week, coming off a win on Thursday in the Black-Murphy Invitational at Lovington.

“The course wasn’t in the best shape, but they didn’t let it bother them,” Crowley said. “They handled the conditions very well.”

Sanchez led the Rams with a two-day total of 157, while senior Matthew Parkey shot 40-38 — 78 on Tuesday to finish at 162.

Freshman William Archibeque shot 41-41 — 82, freshman Rick Bergman finished at 42-41 — 83 and junior Jefferson Powers came in at 42-46 — 88 on Tuesday for Portales. Archibeque’s two-day total was 163, Bergman’s was 168 and Powers’ was 176.

Grants shot 323 on Tuesday and the Pirates’ 666 two-day total was one shot ahead of Socorro, which posted a 322 team total on Tuesday.

Crowley said Sanchez kept the ball in play on Tuesday and improved his putting over the first round.

“He didn’t put it nearly as many times as he did yesterday,” Crowley said. “And he kept the ball in play better.”

Parkey, who started the season a bit slowly, has continued to make progress.

“His timing is impeccable,” Crowley said. “He’s made up his mind that he’s going to be a contributing factor to this team.”